Lionel’s new FasTrack track system for O-gauge trains represents the first new development in Lionel trackage since the introduction, and subsequent demise, of Super-O track in 1957. FasTrack is the most realistic appearing O-gauge track system in Lionel’s history with the blackened center rail, smaller and more numerous ties, and the integrated roadbed. As with their Super-O track, the minimum radius has been increased from the O31/O30 of tubular track to O36. This change, taken together with the almost impossibility of cutting fitter pieces due to the integrated roadbed, means layout designers face a new world with new design parameters when trying to adapt existing and future layout designs to the FasTrack system.

Enter the Lionel FasTrack Example layouts from R & S Enterprises These consist of 51 example layouts using Lionel FasTrack and Lionel Modern era accessories. Layout sizes range from 4 x 8 feet ( a standard sheet of plywood) up to 24 x 15 feet (a good size room). The example layouts use primarily O36 curves as their basis, with some layouts using O48 curves on the mainline, and others using O60 and O72 mainline curves. The latter are generally the larger layouts. All of the layout designs are complete with scenery and structures, and are divided into small, midsize, and large layouts. There are also example layouts of single and double reverse loops, wyes, and O36 and O72 crossovers.

You can purchase the Lionel FasTrack Example Layouts from R & S Enterprises for $19. They come on a CD complete with an explanatory help file and an installer designed to interface with RR-Track v4.02. A copy of RR-Viewerv4.1 is included on the CD with viewer libraries that display all of the FasTrack O examples (these libraries are not compatible with RR-Track v4.x). RR-Viewer v4.1 allows the user to display in both 2D and 3D any of these layouts, study their component list, and print them (changing them with RR-VIewer is not supported). If already own a copy of RR-Track with the Lionel FasTrack O and Lionel Modern accessories libraries, you can then use RR-Track to modify these layout designs as needed. If you don’t own a copy of RR-Track v4 and wish to use these FasTrack layouts as a basis for your own design, order the RR-Track FasTrack special for $69.

9 x 12 feet around the room layout. Nested loops with reversal. This is a country cousin to the Pacific Coast RR layout which featured O36 curves. Here we have O48 curves on the outer loop with O36 everywhere else. 172 track sections and 55 accessories.